Schoolyard Habitats
Lawton School District's Rain Garden
With the help of KBS graduate student Katie Lander, students from Lawton schools are turning a muddy water catchment area on their school grounds into a place for learning. In fall 2006, students in 6th-8th grades planted over 25 plant species including cardinal flower, milkweed, and a variety of grasses and sedges. Plants were chosen because they grow well in wet areas and are native to Michigan. Not only does the rain garden transformation turn an eyesore into an asset, it will also serve as an outdoor classroom. For more information about rain gardens, check out the West Michigan Rain Garden website.
![Lawton Water Garden - Before](images/LawtonGarden-Before.JPG)
![students planting a rain garden](images/LawtonWaterGarden-1.JPG)
Martin School District's Schoolyard Gardens
With the help of KBS graduate student Brook Wilke, students from Martin have been busy turning courtyards and fields into places for learning about pollination, native prairies, cover crops, plant succession, and heirloom crops.
Inner Courtyard |
![Martin Inner Courtyard](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090116090657im_/http://www.kbs.msu.edu/k12/participants/images/100_3448.jpg) |
The Inner Courtyard includes student art, flowering trees and beautiful mums. New in 2006 are a pollinator garden, prairie garden and raspberry patch. Paw paw trees will be planted in 2007.
Inner Courtyard Map |
High School Courtyard |
![High School Courtyard](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090116090657im_/http://www.kbs.msu.edu/k12/participants/images/100_3445.jpg) |
Surrounded on three sides by the high school, this courtyard includes several art pieces and numerous flowering plants. New in 2006 are ten native wildflower species.
High School Courtyard Map |
Field Site |
Prior to the 06/07 schoolyear, the field site open area that was frequently mowed. New in 2006 are a native prairie, cover crop plots. Plans for 2007 include a student garden and a successional field.
Field Site Map
New Prairie Plants for 2006 |
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